Automatic signaling device.



No. 885,188. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908. e. MILBURN.

AUTOMATIC SIGN ALING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD APR. 21, 1908.

G. MILVBURN. AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE,

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 11, 1906.

v PATENTED APR. 21, 1908. G. MILBURN. I AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE- APPLIOATION-PILED MAY 11, '1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' Mali v at'io'rlwug Automatic Signaling UNITED STATES ,ATENT OFFICE.

GUY MILBURN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLARD G. MILBTJRN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

7 AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE.

T '0 all whom itmay concern:

Bait known that I, GUY MILBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices, of which the following is a specification.

mechanism, and has for-its principal object to provide a novel block system in which Sig-- point in the train, with a view of avoiding collisions. g

A further object of the invention is to provide for the automatic display of three different sets of signals whenever a block is occupied by a train; first, acaution signal is given, and next-a danger signal is displayed within'the cab, and the engineers attention is called to these signals by both visible and audible alarms, the signalsbeing arranged to advisev the engineer approaching of-the presence of a trainin a block beyond'that in which he is about to enter. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide for the chan ing' ofcertain of the signals when a secon train passes into the block ad'acent to the one already occupied, thus notifying the engineer. When no signals are displayed the fact indicates to the engineer that the track is clear. I

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes 11113 16 form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the ad-- vantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a system arranged and constructed in accordance with the invention, showing an entire block. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the Win ing of a block indicated as No'. 2. Fig. 3 is a simiiar view illustrating the wiring of a block indicated as No.3. Fig. 4" is a view in the nature of a diagram illustrating the mechanism arranged within thecabjofthe engine. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11, 1906. Serial No. 316,380.

nets If, t and t Patented April 21, 1908.

multiple armatures composed of several laminae for the purpose of controlling the number of circuits.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding arts throughout the several figures of the rawing. ThlS invention relates to train signaling The drawings illustrate the application of the invention to a single track railway, and A,-A, A A A and A indicate the rails of block No. 1, and A the rail connecting block No. 1 with block No. 2.

A A A and A indicate the rails of block No. 2, and A the rail connecting. block No. 2fwith block 3.

A, A, A and A indicate the rails of block 3, and the several blocks are insulated from each other as indicated at 3, 5 and 3.

The several blocks are similarly wired, and three of such blocks are shown in order that the circuits connecting them for the transmission of si nals from block to block may bemore rea ily traced.

Arranged within block l are three circuit controlling electro-magnets, t, t t In block 2 are three similar electro-magnets t t, t, and in block 3 are three similar mag These magnets are arranged in circuit with suitable batteries indicated at 10, 11 and 12, in block 1; 13, 14

and 15 in block 2, and 16, 17 and 18in block 3, the wiring in each case being the same.

Referring first to Fig. 2, the circuit may be traced from the-battery15 over rail A and conductor 94 to electro-magnet t and from thence through conductor 95 to the rail A, back to battery 15. If an engine arrives in this section of the track, the battery 15 will be short circuited and the electro-magnet t i will be deenergized.

From one pole of the battery 14 the current flows to rail A, over wire 96 to electroe magnet t back over wire 97 to rail A back to battery 14., and if an engine arrives onv this section of track, the battery 14 will be short circuited, and the electro-magnet 15 will be deenergized. 1 One pole of the battery 13 is connected to rail A and thence bywire 98 to electromagnet t to block No. 1, back. over wire 99 t0'railA thence to wire 99 of the armature L of the electro-magnet' t ovensaid armature to its contact plate n, wire 99*, armature L of electro-m'agn'ett to contact plate '21 conductor 99, back to the negative pole 11 0 of the battery 13. The Slnllial' circuits of -the remaining hlochs are Wired in exactly the S, S in hloek S S, S in block 2 and S S and S in hlocli 3. In block 1 there are, also, arranged two electro-magnets c, d, and in block 2 are two corresponding magnets 0, d, and in block 2 two magnets c and d", and assoc ated with these are multiple armatures designated generally hy the reference letter L, the armatures being pulled away from the poles of the magnet when the latter are deenergized by means of suital-le springs S The rail sections A and A are connected electrically by a wire to contact plate it of magnet d, lamina. L of t .c armature ol' the same magnet, wire 71, contact plate 12- of magnet c, lamina .l/ of the armature ol' the sa-n'ie magnet, wire 72, hack to the track section A.

The rail sections A? and A are electrically comiected hy means of a wire 73 leading to contact plate a of magnet c, lamina L of armature of the same magnet, wire 74 and wire 99 to track section A and there are similar circuits in the remaining blocks.

The electro-magne (Z is connected in a circuit which may he traced from a battery 7 through Wire 99 to theeleetro-rhagnet, thence through Wire 99 to the lamina L of the armature of magnet t to contact plate a, over wire 99", hack to the negative pole of the hattery 7. and similar circuits may he traced in any of the remaining blocks.

in each oi the hlo'clrs there is, also, arranged an electioanagnet for controlling asemapl'iore signal arranged at the side of the track. thus, for instance, in hlock 1 there is an clect'ro-magnet 1' having an armature ll arranged to engage. a contact n-and close a circuit over a. wire 120 to a hattcry l2] and solenoid. 122 which ope ates the semaphore R, and hack oyer Wire 123 to the armature L. in similar manner an clectro-inagnet- 7: in block No. 2 controls the operating circuit ot a semaphore R and in hlock 3 an electromagnet 71 controls the circuit of a semahhorc R The several armatures of these elcctromagncts are shown as acted upon hy springs S, S and 3", respectively.

The electro-magnet 1' is included in a circuit which may he traced l rmnhattery .l to the clectro-magnet, Wire 99?. electro-magnct 0, Wire 9i)". to rail A over rail A'' to the opposite end, thence hy Wire. tltl to contact plate n of electro-magnct cl, lamina lj ol' the armature of said t-ldti'lt)]llfl]l(l. ovcr wire to the opposite pole of the lzattcry When this circuit is closed through the hattery, the electro-niagnct 1' is-cnergz imwl. and

- display position.

' tact n its arn'taturc l) is held from movement, so that the semaphore lt will not he moved to in similar manner the electroanagncts 7'1 and 7c are connected in circuit with batteries 2 and 3, respectively and these control the semaphores ll and Rt I The magnets Which control the scumphores R, R and ll are energized when it is desired to display an outside caution signal,-and in addition to these aution signals. there are, also, danger signals M, M and M located adjacent to the ends of the l locl s and these are under the control of thc e|cctromagnets 1 t and t. In tracing the circuit of the danger signal, it will he seen that a vrire 130 runs from a hattery 131 to the corn ol the elcctro-magnct t. thcncc through the lamina L of thc armature ol' the same magnet, wire 13], to a solenoid 15%;. and thence hack to the hattcry. So long as the circuit of this solenoid is energized l v the engagement ol the armature with the contact 11 the semaphore n ill he held from movcment, hut when the circuit is opened hy the dccnergizing ot' the electro-magnct t. the semaphore will he allowed to move to display position, and show a danger signal. warning the engineer of the presence of a train in thc hloch ahead,- While the. caution signal wants him of the presence of a train in the second block ahead.

n the several hlocks are arranged addit-ional hattcrics. the hattcry -l in hlock l. the battery 5 inhlock '2, and thc .hattcry (S in block 3; The circuits of these hattcrics are normally open. hut when the electro-magnet c is dcencrgizcd. and the springh moves its armature away from the pole of the magnet. the lamina l i ol the armature cngagcs the contact in} This connects the positiyc pole of the hatt'cry 4 with the rail section A. the circuit heing traced from positive pole of the hattery through wire 85. contact plate 2:.

'ol electro-magnet (l, lamina ll ol the arma ture ol the same magnet. contact In, lamina ll of the .electro-magnet c. wire 74. and wire 99 to the rail section A. When this is done. the lrattery is ready to operate thc mechanism on the engine l'or displaying a caution signal. and it is to he hcrc undcrstood that the hattcry -l is thus conncctcd hy a train two hlocks ah ad, that is to say. a train in one hlock will so operate the connections, that thc hattcry l in the second hlock hehind it will he r ady to operate on the mechanism in the engine to display a aution signal. hut in the hlock immediately hchind that in' which the train is located, the

hattcry will not he so located. and it another train arrives in this l lm'h. the signals ol that t'ain will he sent to danger po ition. The other pole of hattcry connects with rail A'- through wire 73. 'lhc circuit is complctcd from A" to A" through the train circuits. in a ltltl manner more definitely to be described here.- inafter.

Turning now "to Fig. 4, which illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement of the cab connections and signals, 45- and 32 designate two semaphores pivoted at 47 and 34,

res ectively, and provided with lenses 46* an 33 which are movable ,over lamps 51 and 50, respectively, one carrying a green lens and the other a red lens. In the cab are, also, arranged two electric bells26 and 27 which form the audible alarm.

Asshown inFig. 4, the parts are in normal position, that is, that no signal is displayed, and connections made between the cab and the traflic rails by means of two wires 76 and 77-, the wire 76 being connected tonne of the axles of the engine, and the wire 77 being connected to one of the axles of the locomotive tender or baggage car, this connection being shown in Fig. '1.- In wire 77 is arranged a battery 19 whichis connected to an electro-magnet 75, thence to contact plate 56, over lamina 60 of the armature of the magnet over conductor 76 to the engine, and thence back over the rails to the wheels of the tender of the same train, andv back over I conductor 77 to theopposite pole of the battery. So long as the wheels of the engine tender are in electricalcontact through the rails, the electrormagnet'7 5 is energized, andif they are insulated from each other as by straddling,the insulating points 3,3?, 3*, 3, etc'., the circuit will be broken, and the electro-magnet 75 will bedenergized. The engine further carries a battery 24 connected to contact plate 48', and the current thence flows over wire 90 to the bells 26 and 27 which are connected in multiple to wire 91, electro-rhagnet 23, and back to battery 24. This current is insufiicient to ring the bells,

but is sent through them, so that if an open circuit should occur in the wires which lead to "the bells, the electro-magnet '23 would be denergized allowing-its armature 25 to be drawn away from contact plate 24* by tension spring 80, thus opening oneof the cir-' I 'cuits ofa battery 22, and denergizing the.

solenoid 30. When this occurs the semaweight on the lens side of the pivot, and displays a danger signal.

The circuit from the battery 22 may be' traced to armature 25, contact plate, 24*, solenoid magnet 30, wire 81, contact plate 59, lamina 69, wire 82, back to the opposite pole of the battery. Current also flows from battery 22 over conductor 83, semaphore arm 45, contact plate 40, solenoid magnet 42', wire 84, wire 81, contact plate 59, lamm'a 69, and wire 82 back to battery 22.

In the engine cab ,therejs also arranged a dash pot 54 in which is a movable-piston 52 carrying a contact plate 52'- which is engaged at one end by the lamina 60 of'the armature phore arm"32 m'oves upward by reas'onof the of electro-magnet 75, this armature being pivoted at the point 69. An insulatin block or blocks 55 is interposed between the amine 60, and the contact plate 52, so that no current can pass, and if theelectro-magnet is denergized and the lamina 60 is allowed to move away fromthe plate 52, the piston 52 of the dash pot will move inward, as; for instance, under the action of contractile spring 200, and contact plate 52 will en-' gage the contact 53, closin a circuit'of which mention will be heremafter made; In the engine cab there are, also,'arrang'ed' two electro-magnets 64 and 65, which con trol a pivotally mounted armature"66,"these being arranged in circuits whichare under the control of the electrO-magnet 7 5. r

If a train is at any point in block 3,"'say, for instance, on the rails A and A, the y electro-magnet t will be denergized, allow- 5 ing itsarmature to' be drawn away from the contact plates n and 1t, thus displaying the outside danger semaphore arm M, and" also breaking the circuit to battery 8, thereby denergizing electro-magnet d, and allowing 9 its armature to be drawn away from its contact 'plate, thereby breaking'electrical con-' nection between the rails A and A, and also breaking thejcircuitof the'battery 1 which results in deenergizing the 'electro-magnet 9.5 r, and permitting movement of the caution signal R to display position,"so that inblock 1 a-c'aution signal is displayed, and in block No. 2- a danger signal is displayed. 'As-the 'electro-magnet c of block No. 1 is also deenergized the lamina L of the armature of this magnetv will engage the contact 111, and

the positive pole of the battery 4 will be elec trically connected with the rail section A through the wire 85, the armature of electromagnet d, contact'plate m, lamina L of the armature of electromagnet c, wires 74 and 99 to the rail A If another train isthen in block 1, straddling the insulating joints 3 and 3, as shown in Fig. 1, the circuit of the battery 19 of the engine will be broken, and magnet .75 will be denergized, thereby breaking the circuit of the battery'22, and denergizing the solenoids 30 and 42, all ow-.

ing both semaphore arms to rise, by reason of the weights on the lens side of their pivots 34 and 47. This allows the lamina 60'ofthe armature of ele'ctro-magnet 75 to move into engagement with contact plate'57- and the lamina 58 of the armature to move intoen gageme'nt with the contact plate 62 while the dash pot piston 52 is released, and the contact plate 52 moves into engagement with the contact. plate 53.

As the engine travels alonguntil theengine wheels pass beyond the insulating-sections 3 and 3", the positive pole of the-bat- -tery 4 is placed in, inter-communication through the rail A with the engine wheels and wire 76, the curren'trunning to lamma60 of the armature of the elcetro-magnet 75 to contact plate 57. electro-magnet 64, con- .ductors S6 and 77 to the axle of the tender T, over said axle and its wheels to the rail section A'-', conductor 73 to the opposite pole of the battery 4. This energizes the electromagnet 64 of the engine, causing it to attract. the armature 68 which is hinged at 66, and thus bring said armature into engagement with the contact plate 63. thereby completing the circuit of a battery 20, the circuit being traced from the battery to a wire 140, contact plate 63. armature 6S, elmtro-tmtgnet 65, wire 141, lamina 58. contact 62, wire 143. solenoid 38, wire 144, back to battery 20 thus energizing the electro-magnet 38, and drawing down the semaphore danger signal 32, leaving only the green or caution semaphore arm to remain up as a caution signal. Considering the advanced train still remaining-in block 3, and the engine of block 1 traveling toward block 2 with the caution signal displayed, as soon as the contacts of the engine and tender straddle the insulating joints 3 and 3 metallic connection between the rails A and A being broken, the circuit of the battery 19 on the engine will again be broken, allowing the red semaphore. arm to rise, both arms remaining up as a danger signal, and when the engine in traveling forward straddles the insulated joint R and 3", the battery 5 will not send a circuit through the electro-magnet 64 of the engine, as did the battery 4, because the armature of the'electro-magnet c will not be released, for in order to accom lish this the advance train must be two bloc s ahead, whereas in this case it is only a single block ahead.

'When the armature of the electro-magnet 75 is released and the piston 52 of the dash pot 54 is allowed to move until the contact plate 52 strikes the contact 53, current will pass from the battery 19 through the magnet 75 over conductor 88 to contact 53, contact 52, piston 52, the metallic dash pot 54, conductor 87, a conductor 76, over the wheels of the engine, and over the rails, (the engine and tender having passed the insulated joints), to wheels and axles of the tender, and over conductor 77 back to the opposite side ofthe battery, thereby energizing the electro-magnet 75 which will attract its armature and break the circuit of the battery 20, thereby denergizing the electro-magnet and allowing its armature to assume. the normal position shown in Fig. 4. This denergizes the solenoid 38. When the armature of th electro-magnet is attracted, current again flows from the battery 22 through the solen oid 30, holding the semaphore arm 42 down as soon as the circuit of the battery 20 is broken. When the engineer sees the caution signal, he lowers the semaphore arm 45,

Which establishes a circuit from the battery '22, through the solenoid 42, as previously described, which holds the green semaphore arm down.

The engine'crs attention is called by the bells 26 and 27 which ring simultaneously with the rise of the semaphore arm. When the green sen'iaphoi'e arm rises, it makes contact with the plate 48, allowing current to flow from the battery .22 through the. semaphore arm, contact plate 48, conductor 90, through bells 26 and 27 and comluctor 91 back to battery 22. When the green arm rises, the lamina 1%) comes into engagement with the contact 4t). Current then llows from battery 21 over conductor 92 to con tact 49, conductor 93 to the lamina 50 and 51 which are in multiple, back to the battery 21, thus lighting the lamps.

It will be seen that any engine traveling over the road will so set the circuits that.- a following engine two blocks in the rear will have a caution signal displayed, and the bells will be rung, and the lamps ignited, and at the. end of the block an outside semaphore caution'signal will, also, be displayed. 11' the. following engine enters the block immediately behind the first train, the danger signals will be set on the following train, and the outside danger semaphore signal will, also, be set, and this operation will continue throughout the length of the road.

1 claim i 1. A signaling system in which the track sections are divided into insulated blocks, and electro-magnetically operated means under the control of an engine in one block for etlecting the display of a danger signal in the next adjacent block, and a caution signal in the. second block, a signal on each engine, the last said signal being continuously connected with the block conductors, and a source of energy normally disconnected from the block conductors and arranged to be con nected thereto by an engine in a block other than that through which the signal is to be operated.

2. A signaling system divided into insulated blocks, caution and danger semaphores in each block, electro magnets normally holding the semaphores in non=signaling positions: and circuits in which said electromagnets are disposed, the circuits being controlled by an engine to etl'ect the display of a danger signal in the. block next adjacent to that. in which the engine is located, and a caution signal in the second block, a signal means on each engine, said signal means being continuously connected with the block conductors and a source of energy normally disconnected from the block conductors and arranged to be'connected thereto l an engine in a block other than that through which the signal is operated.

3. In train signaling rails divided into insulated blocks, electro-magnets arranged in each block and under the control of trains a is operated.

which have passed beyond the block in which they are located, a source of energy arranged in each block and arranged to be connected to one of the block conductors, a signal means on each engine, said signal means being continuously connected with the block conductors, and a source of energy normally disconnectedfrom the block conductor and arranged to be connected thereto by an engine in a block other than-by which the signal 4. A railway signaling system divided into blocks, a signal or alarm means on each engine, said signal or alarm means being continuously connected with the block conductors, and a source of energy normally discondivided into insulated blocks, a source of nected from the block conductors and arranged to be connected thereto, by an engine or trainin -a block other than that through which the si nal is to be operated.

5. In 'rai way signaling systems, rails divided into. insulated blocks, a source of energy arranged in each block and normally disconnected from the rails, means under the control. of an engine through a distant block for connecting the source of energy to the rail, and a signaling circuit on the train arranged to be energized from such source of energy. v

6. In a railway signaling system,v rails energy arranged'ineach block and normally disconnected from the rails, an electromagnet in each block for controlling the connection oi the source of energy to the rails, an electro-magneticcircuit, the terminals of which are under'the control-of a train in a distant block, a signaling means carried by the train and arranged to be electhe rails are divided into insulated blocks, a

battery arranged in each block and normally disconnected from the rails, an energized circuit arranged on each train, signaling devices under the control of the circuits, the signaling devices being movable to operative position during the-passage of the train over insulated sections of the rail, and means operable by the block battery for restoring oneof the signals and leaving the other in display position.

9. In a railway signaling system, rails di- Vided into blocks, a separate battery for each block, a plurality of signaling devices on'each train, a-controlling circuit for the signaling devices, the terminals of said aircuit'being connected to the rails at distant points in the length of the train, whereby the circuit may be opened as the train passes over an insulated portion of the track, and

means for connecting the block battery to the train circuit to complete the same and eflect movement of one ofthe signals.

. 10. In train signaling systems, rails arranged in b cks, a separatebattery for each block, the i attery being normally disconnected from the'rails, means under the control of a train in a distant block fon'connecu ing the battery to the rails, a plurality of signaling devices on each train, a controlling circuit therefor, the terminals of such circuit being connected through the running gear of the train to rails at distant points in the length of the train, and means operable on connection with the block battery for effecti'ng movement of one of said signals.

11. In train signaling systems, a pair of semaphores arranged on eachtrain, solenoids controlling the movement of the semaphores, a pair of bells, and a pair of electriclamps, the circuits of which are under the control of one of said semaphores, battery connections leading through the solenoids, track contacts forming terminals to a controlling circuit on the train, anda series of electr -magnets and armatures and controlled -by.'said air-.- cuit, and serving to effect movement of the semaphore arms to idle and display position in accordance with the nearness of approachv of the train to the danger point.

In testimony-whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUY MILBURN.

Witnesses WALTON BREWINGTON, MARY M. MAGRAW 

